llook IV. S I N A P L A G U E. P A R A L L E L S. I. TI-lE L ·,profy proceedeth from poifoned and corrupred Humors in the Body: So Sin is nothing elfe but the poifonous and corrupt Humors of the Soul. Il. The Plague of the Leprofy fpreads over every Part of the Body: So Sin hath fpread itfelf over the whole Lump of Mankind, and over every Faculry of the Soul. Ill. No Difeafe is more ftinking and hateful to Men than the Leprofy: So nothing is more abominable and deteftable in the Sight of God, and Gncere Chriftiam, than Sin. IV. No Difeafe is more contagious and infetl:ious than the L eprofy; the Plague of the Peftilence, faith a Divine, is not fo infetl:ious as the Plague of the Leprofy; it infecteth Houfes,Walls, Velfels, Garments, &c. So nothing is fo infetl:ious as Sin. See Sin a Wound. V. The Plague of the Leprofy feparated the infected Perfon from the Fellowfhip of all Men, whatever they were, if incurable, although Kings ; they were utterly and for ever excluded the Haft, as Uzziah, neither were they admitted to come into the Tem– ple, to join in holy Things, 2 Kings xv. 5· So Sin unrepented of, feparateth from God and Chrift, and from the Fellowfhip of rhe Sainrs; it fhurs Souls out of rhe Church, nay, our of Heaven irfelf. VI. No Difeafe is more painful and mortal, or more incurable; therefore they were ·enjoined to'put on mournful Apparel and Garments; it was fo rarely and feldom cured, that moO: carried it to their Graves: So Sin is very painful and tormenting, as we before have fhewed. VII. The Symptoms of th~ Leprofy agree with the Symptoms and Effetl:s of Sin. 1. There is a Debility and Weaknefs of all Parts in them rhat have rh is Difeofe, be– caufe the Spirits are cxhaulted: So Sin makes feeble, weakens, and debilitates the Powers of the Soul. Hence Jacob, when he blelfed R.eub,n, cries out, As weak and unftable as Water, becaufe of his Sin. Saints have weak Hands, and feeble Knees oft– times hereby. 2. There is in a Leper a Tumor and Swelling in the Flefh: So Sin fwells a Man up in Pride, Vain-glory, and Self.conceitednefs. 3· There is in them, faith my Author, a burning Thirft, throogh the aduft and burnt Blood by Melancholy, whereof it arifeth: So Sin caufeth an Inflammation and Burning of Anger, ot Luft, and vehement T hirft after the World, Prerermenr, Plea– fures, Riches, &c. See Poifon. 4· There is in them filthy, putrid Matter, breoking forth in a moO: loathfome Man– ner: So fuch as are greatly infetl:ed with the Plague of Sin, caft forth nothing bm horrid Pollution. Hence wicked Men are likened to the troubled Sea, thot cafts forth miry Dirt. 5· They have a hoarfe and weak Voice: So Sinners cannot pray, or if they do, they cannot be heard. God hears not Sinners, John ix. 3 1. 6. They have a ihnking Breath and Mouth, and therefore they mull: cover their Lips, lefl by their Breath they fhould infetl: others : So Sinners have a filthy Breoth : Their Mouths are full of unclean and adulterous Speeches, belching forth nothing but vile and abominable Oaths, Curlings, and Oanderous Accufat ions againfl: the Godly, and fo;netimcs alfo againft one another; but thefe feldom CO\'er their Lips. I N F E R E N C E S. I. WHAT an horrid Difeafe, and Plague of Plagues, is Sin ! Every Man hath a running Plague-Sore upon h1m. Who IS It that 11 not a Leper from the \~Tomb? We were all born with this Plague; we brought it inro the World with us. Every Man, as he is in himldf, may cry our, Unclean, unclean. Sin hath fpr<ad itfdf over us like a Leprdy. I!. Wicked Men are miferable, whoever they are, if not cured of this Plague. Sin renders a Man more hateful to God, than an ugly Toad is ro us. Ill. It may caution Saints w fhun the Company of a vile Sinner, and dread Sin, and fly from it, as from the Plague. Norhing that ~ inners touch, but they defile, infeCt, and tainr it~ till they are cltanfed, whether earthly or heavenly Things; all Creawre– Comforts and Actions are unclean to them hereby: The very ploughing of the W1cked is Sin, Prov. xxi. 4· yea, the Sacraments, Prayers, or Alms, all is polluted, fo long as they are unconverred. Unto them that are defiled, nothing is pure, &c. 'I'it. i. 13. IV. A wicked Man can converle with no Man, but, as a Leper, be infetl:s him by his ill Example; be endangers the Lives and Souls of Men. 2 V. It
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